Web feeding mechanism



Dec. 29, 1936. A. J. HORTON 2,066,307"

WEB FEEDING MECHANI S M Fil ed J1me 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l x x m N A NY 9; o 5 -5?? N I I N h 9 u 0) Q I (LIN, M m

I Inventor Dec. 29, 1936. A. J. HORTON WEB FEEDING MECHANISM 2Sheets-Shet 2 Filed June 7, 1955 m lq m QM mm NM Q- N .M

Inventor Patented Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WEB FEEDINGMECHANISM Application June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25,389

23 Claims.

This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly toimprovements in web tension equalizing mechanisms for printing machines.

; In mach nes operating on a web of paper or similar material which isdrawn from a roll, it is a general practice to provide a rollersupported a short distance away from the web roll and around which theweb is passed before it is led to the printing cylinders or othermechanism that may operate upon it. These rollers are usually rotatablysupported by bearings carried on springs, so that any difference intension of the opposite edges of the web may be compensated for. Due todifference in moisture content on the opposite ends of a web roll, itquite frequently happens that the length of a turn of the web at one endof the roll is substantially different from the length of the turn atthe other end, but the tensioning roller compensates for this differenceand produces a smooth unwrinkled surface on the web as it is fed to themachine. I

The spring supported rollers in general use operate satisfactorily whenthe web is so positioned thatthe center of the web passes around theroller at a point midway between its ends, but when a narrower web, suchas a half width web is positioned near one end of the roller, thetension at the opposite edges of the web cannot m be satisfactorilyequalized. In applicants pending application, Serial Number 612,699,filed May 21, 1932, means are shown for overcoming the diflicultymentioned, where it is practical to support the equaliz'ng roller sothat it will pivot about one or more transverse vertical axes. Herein isdiscosed a similar tension equalizing roller that is pivoted about aplurality .of transverse horizontal axes, so that the web may be led toand from it in vertical or'nearly vertical planes. One of the principalobjects of this invention is toprovide an improved web tensionequalizing roller for supporting and directing a web, whereby thetension on the web running thereover will be substantially uniform ateach edge and the web will therefore be free from wrinkles.

Another object is to provide in such mechanism, novel supporting meansfor the roller, which will permit the roller to adapt itself, toefficiently equalize the tension on webs of various widths.

Still another object isto provide in such mechanism novel adjustingmeans whereby the roller may be disposed to support and equalize thetension on full or fractional width webs as required. A further objectis to provide roller supporting means whereby the roller may be adjustedto swing, during web tension equalizing operation, about various axesdisposed transversely to its longitudinal axis and preferably insubstantially a vertical plane.

A still further object is to provide in such roller mechanism, means topivotally support the roller on a transverse axis with the pivot pointsubstantially in line with, or above, the upper peripheral surface ofthe roller.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel rollermechanism of generally improved construction, whereby the device will besimple, durable and inexpensive in construction, as well as convenient,practical, serviceable and efficient in its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that various changes in theprecise embodiment of the invention herein dis closed may be made withinthe scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein: l

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a roller mechanism embodying thefeatures of this invention' and arranged to equalize tension on a web offull width;

Fi ure 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1but having its parts arranged to equalize tension on a web ofsubstantially one-half width;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the device as shown inFigure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the device as seen on the line 4 ofFigure 3 and in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the portion of the device shown in Figure3;

Figure 6 is a view partly in section, similar to Figure 3 with partsbroken away to more clearly show the structural details; and

Figures 7 and 8 are diagrammatic views of the roller illustrating therelative amounts of movement of opposite ends of the roller when thesame is in operation and disposed to swing about various axes.

The roll mechanism selected to illustrate the features of this inventionis one in which the tension equalizing roller is arranged to swing in avertical plane about various axes disposed sub- 1 by collars 3|.

stantially tangential to the upper side of its periphery. The supportsfor the roller, disposed, in this instance, one at either end thereof,are substantially identical in structure and are adapted to permitlongitudinal adjustment of the roller and of the pivot support therefor,whereby the particular transverse axis desired may be readily locatedand the mechanism adjusted for use with any predetermined width of web.The pivotal support for the roller, in this instance, is arranged withthe pivot point thereof substantially in line with the upper peripheralsurface of the roller and preferably should be either so disposed orabove the said surface to insure sensitiveness in the web tensionequalizing operation of the mechanism. To continuously insurecomparatively perfect balance of the parts, resilient supporting means,in this instance, compression springs are provided.

The mechanism embodying the features of this invention and which isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, comprises a web supportingroller I0,'having its shaft II journaled at each end thereof in bearingblocks I2, wherein 'it is suitably secured against axial movementrelatively thereto. The bearing blocks I2 are pivotally supported orhung upon a shaft I3, which is supported at each end thereof in a boxI4. The axis of shaft I3, in this instance, is in line with the uppersurface of roller III. Each of the boxes I4 is slidably mounted ina-slot I5, formed in each part of a bifurcated arm IQ of a bell crank H,the other arm I3 of which depends from an end of arm I6 and is disposedat substantially right angles thereto. The shaft I3 extends between theparts of arm I6 and is secured to each box I4 by a nut 2I threaded uponthe adjacent end of shaft I3.

The bell crank I1 is swingably mounted by a shaft I9, at the jointure ofarms I8 and I3 thereof, to a supporting bracket 22 secured to astationary part, in this instance a rail 23, of the printing machine, bybolts 24. An adjustable.

stop screw 25 is provided and is disposed to be engaged by arm I3 tolimit and control the amount of swinging movement of the bell crank IT.A tie rod 26 is provided and secured at each end, to the free ends ofarms I3 of each of the bell cranks I! to insure equal movement thereofand is adjustable in length by means of a threaded coupling 21, hereindisposed substantially central between its ends. The rod 26 is hereinhorizontally offset along its central portion to avoid contact with theweb W running over roller I0.

As hereinbefore mentioned, theroller I0, with its bearing blocks I2, isadjustably slidable longitudinally with respect to its axis, in eitherdirection, and it is guided in such movement by the cooperation of theboxes I4 with the surfaces defining slots I5 of bell crank arms I 6.Such movement in either direction, may be imparted to roller I3 and itsassociated parts by means of a manually operable feed screw 23 rotatablysupported in a lug 23 of the bell crank I1 and secured against axialmovement relatively thereto The threaded end 32, of screw 28, screwsinto a threaded block 33 secured to shaft I3 by screws 34. Only one feedscrew 28 I and block 33 is required and herein it is'shown in connectionwith the left hand bell crank II.

To compensate for the weight of roller I0 and its associated mechanismand to balance the same, compression springs 35 are provided. One springis herein disposed at each end of the devic between the bearing block I2and the lower end of a bracket 36 secured by bolts 31 to rail 23. Thesprings are supported at each end by cups 38 and 39, which are pivotallyengaged by spring tension adjusting screws H and 42 respectively, which,in turn, are threadingly secured to block I2 and bracket 33respectively. Manipulation of screws 4I or 42.permits sensitiveadjustment of the tension of sprngs 35 to substantially counteract theweight of the roller I0 and its associated mechanism.

The arrangement whereby the roller is supported on the bell crank leversallows it to swing about a transverse axis, and by adjusting the rollerlongitudinally, by means of the screw 23 the position of the axis may beshifted to bring it at the center of a web running at the center ornear-either end of the roll.

This is accomplished by moving the pivotal points from which the rolleris hung (herein the shafts I3) into predetermined axial position wherebyto accommodate the particular width of web to be run. For instance,asshown in Figure 1, the parts of the mechanism are positioned to run afull width web extending, say between points A and B, and theunevennesses therein.

are compensated for, by a swinging movement of the mechanism-about pivotpoints I3. This in effect permits the swinging of roller I0 about afulcrum point midway between its ends, for instance, at point 5i,(Figure 1), the amount of movement at each end of the roller beingequal. To indicate the proper setting of parts in this position, anindicating mark may be made, as at 52, on bell crank arm it (Figure 3)to coincide with another mark on box I4.

Movement of the roller with its associated parts, (herein the bearingblocks I2, shafts I3, and boxes I4), either to the right or to the leftin Figure 1, will operate to shift the fulcrum point 5| to variouspositions along the roller, and various widths of webs may be run andsimilar results will be obtained, the fulcrum .point for the roller, ineach instance, being disposed substantially at or in alignment with thecenter of the web running thereover.

In Figure 2 is illustrated the setting of the parts, to the left of theposition shown in Figure 1, to a point where a one-half width webpositioned at an off center portion, herein near the left endof the rollis accommodated. The fulcrum point for the swinging movement of theroller, in this instance, is indicated at 55, and it will be notedthatfrom this point as a center the swinging movement is equal alongeach edge of the web being run, the width of web being indicated asbeing disposed between points A and C.

The effect of running a three-quarter width web is indicated in Figure 7wherein the web will lie between points A and D at the left hand end ofthe roller or between points E and Fat the right hand end of the roller,the roller swinging about fulcrum points 56 or 51 respectively. InFigure 8, a one-half width web is indicated as extending between pointsE and G, whereby the fulcrum point for the roller will be at 53.

In all of the above instances, the tension applied to the web by theroller is uniform over its entire width from edge to edge and thereforean automatically operating web tension equalizing mechanism is providedwhich is simple in structure and readily adjustable to webs of differentwidths.

It is obvious that the means for mounting an equalizing roller, asherein ,disclosed, may be so altered that the roller will pivot about atransverse vertical axis in case it is desired to run the ,web to andfrom the roller in substantially or approximately horizontal planes; inwhich case the shafts l9 would be supported with their axes in avertical plane and the springs can be omitted.

Furthermore, the pivot point of the roller may be positioned above theupper surface of the roller as hereinbefore mentioned, to as great' anextent as desired, by increasing the distance between the axis of theroller and the axes of the shafts l3. When this distance is increasedbeyond that shown in the drawings, a caster effect is produced which isconsidered advantageous under some circumstances.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributesthereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive,reference being had to the claims rather than to the foregoingdescription to indicate the scope of the invention.

What I claim is: 1. In a printing machine, the combination of a webguiding roller, a supporting device for said roller adjustable toposition said roller to permit it to swing about any one of a pluralityof transverse axes spaced apart longitudinally along, and disposedsubstantially in' line with, the surface of said roller, and means toadjust said supporting device.

2. In a printing machine, the combination of a web guiding roller, asupporting device for said roller adjustable to position said roller topermit it to freely swing in a vertical plane about any one of aplurality of axially spaced apart transverse axes, and means to adjustsaid supporting device.

3. In a printing machine, the combination of a web guiding roller, asupporting device for said roller adjustable to position said roller topermit it to swing in a vertical plane about any one of a plurality ofaxially spaced apart transverse axes, and means to maintain said rollersubstantially in balanced condition.

4. In a printing machine, the combination of a web-guiding roller, asupporting device for said 'roller, and means to adjust thesaidsupporting device to dispose the axis of said roller in position toswing about any one of a plurality of points spaced apart longitudinallyalong, and disposed substantially above the longitudinal axis of, saidroller.

5. In a printing machine, the combination of a web guiding roller, asupporting device for said roller adjustable to position said roller topermit it to freely swing about any one of a plurality of transverseaxes spaced apart longitudinally along said roller, each of said axesbeing disposed substantially in line with the upper surface of saidroller, and resilient means tending to maintain said roller in balancedcondition about the transverse axis selected.

6. In a web tension equalizing roller mecha nism, a web guiding roller,and a supporting device for said roller adjustable to selectivelydispose said roller in a plurality of positions to permit itto swingabout any one of a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart transverseaxes, said roller being pivotally mounted to said supporting device,with its surface substantially in line with the center of its pivotalconnection with said supporting means.

7. In a web tension equalizing roller mechanism, a roller, means topivotally support said roller with its longitudinal axis below the pivotpoint of its connection with said supporting means, for swingingmovement transverse to its longitudinal axis, means to adjust saidsupporting means axially with respect to said roller, and means toswingably support said roller supporting means to permit swingingmovement of said roller about an axis disposed transversely to 2 thelongitudinal axis of said roller.

8. In a web tension equalizing roller mechanism, a roller, means topivotally support said roller with its longitudinal axis below the pivotpoint of its connection with said supporting means for swinging movementtransverse to its longitudinal axis, means to swingably support sa droller supporting means to permit swinging movement of said roller aboutan axis disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of said roller, andmeans to adjust said roller supporting means to dispose said roller inposition to selectively swing about a plurality of axes disposedtransverse to its longitudinal axis.

9. In a printing machine, a roller supporting mechanism, comprising abearing member for the roller shaft, oscillating means to support saidbearing member, and means to move said bearing member along saidoscillating means axially with respect to the roller shaft.

10. In a printing machine, a web guide roller, a roller supportingmechanism, comprising a bearing member 'for the roller, means forsupporting said bearing member to swing in a vertical plane on an axistransverse to the axis of the roller, and means to move said bearingmember relatively to said supporting means therefor, axially withrespect to the roller.

11. In a printing machine, roller supporting mechanism, comprising abearing member for the roller, substantially vertically swingable meansfor supporting said bearing member, means to move said bearing memberrelatively to said supporting means therefor axially with respect to theroller, and resilient means tending to maintain said roller level.

12. In a printing machine, roller supporting mechanism, comprising abearing member for the roller, means to support said bearing member,said means being mounted for swinging movement on an axis transverse tothe longitudinal axis of the roller, and means to move said hearingmember along said supporting means therefor transversely to the axis ofthe swinging movement of said supporting means.

13. In a printing machine, a web guiding roller, roller supportingmechanism, comprising a bearing member for said roller, a shaft topivotally support said bearing member, said shaft being mounted forswinging movement on an axis disposed above and transverse to said axisof the roller, and means to move said shaft longitudinally with respecttosaid roller.

14. In a device of the type described, a roller, and means to supportsaid roller, comprising a fixed part, a part pivoted to said fixed partand normally extending therefrom substantially parallel to the axis ofsaid roller, and a part connecting said roller with said pivoted partand being slidably mounted thereon for movement in directions,substantially parallel to the axis 0 said roller.

15. In a device of the type described, a roller, and means to supportsaid roller, comprising a fixed part, a part' pivoted to said fixedpart, a part connecting said roller with said pivoted part, saidconnecting part being pivoted to said pivoted part forswinging movementon an axis disposed transverse to, and being slidable thereon indirections substantially parallel to, the axis of said roller.

16. In a device of the type described, a roller, and means to supportsaid roller, comprising a fixed part, a part pivoted to said fixed.part, a part connecting said roller with said pivoted part, saidconnecting part being pivoted to said pivoted part for swinging movementon an axis disposed transverse to, and being slidable thereon indirections substantially parallel to, the axis of said roller, the pivotpoint between said connecting part and said pivoted part being disposedabove the axis of said roller.

17. In a machine to receive a running web, the combination of a rollerover which the web runs, bearings for and disposed at each end of saidroller, a member pivoted above the axis of said roller and supportingeach of said bearings, a rockable part slidably supporting each of saidmembers, means to connect said parts together to insure rocking movementthereof in unison, and means to slidably adjust said members relativelyto the said supporting parts whereby one end of said roller will beswung a greater amount than the other, when said parts are rocked.

18. In a device for equalizing the tension on both edges of a web beingfed into a machine operating thereon, in combination, a roller adaptedto have a web running over an off center portion thereof, a supportingdevice for rotatably supporting said roller and being adjustable topermit the end of said roller that is adjacent the off center portionthereof and has the web running thereover, to move a lesser amount thanthe other end of said roller, to swing said roller on a transverse axisdisposed above the roller axis, and means to adjust said device.

19. In a device for equalizing the tension on both edges of a web beingfed into a machine operating thereon, in combination, a roller adaptedto have a web running over an off center portion thereof, a bearing foreach end of said roller, a support to which each bearing is pivoted andwhich is swingable about the pivot point thereof, the pivot point beingspaced from the axis of said roller, a swingable member upon which eachof said supports is slidably mounted for movement axially with respectto said roller, means 'conmeeting said members to insure swingingmovement thereof in unison, and means to slidably adjust said supportson said members.

20. In a mechanism for equalizing the tension in a web 'being fed ,intoa machine operating thereon, the combination of a roller over which theweb runs, a supporting device for said roller adjustable to positionsaid roller to permit it to swing about any one of a plurality oflongitudinally spaced apart transverse axes each spaced radially fromthe longitudinal axis 0! said roller and substantially in alignment withthe center of the web running over said roller, and means to adjust saiddevice.

21. In a machine operating upon a web, a web guiding roller, a movablebearing for rotatably supporting each'endof said roller, means forconstraining said bearings to insure simultaneous movement, in avertical plane, of each bearing in a direction opposite to the movementof the other, means to adjust said constraining means to permit saidroller to swing about a transverse axis substantially inv alignment withthe center of a web running over one portion of said roller and toadjust said constraining means to permit said roller-to swing aboutanother transverse axis substantially in alignment with the center of aweb running over a different portion'of said roller, to equalize thetension on opposite edges of the web in each instance.

22. In a machine operating upon a web, a web guiding, roller, a movablebearing for rotatably supporting each end of said roller, means forconstraining said bearings to insure simultaneous movement, in avertical plane, of each bearing in.

a direction opposite to the movement of the other, means to adjust saidconstraining means to permit said roller to swing about a transverseaxis substantially in alignment with the center of a web running overone portion of said roller and to adjust said constraining means topermit said roller to swing about another transverse axis substantiallyin alignment with the center oi! a web running over a different portionof said roller, to equalize the tension on opposite edges of the web ineach instance, and supporting means for said bearings arranged tosubstantially balance the roller when it is swung on either transverseaxis.

23. In a machine operating upon a web, a web guiding roller, a movablemember supporting each end of said rollerfor swinging movement about apivot point radially spaced from the axis of said roller, means forconnecting said members to insure simultaneous movement of each in adirection opposite to the movement of the other, means to adjust saidmembers to permit said roller to freely swing about a transverse axissubstantially in alignment with the center of a web running over oneportion of said roller, and to adjust said members to permit said rollerto freely swing about another transverse axis substantially in alignmentwith the center of a web running over a difierent portion of saidroller, and means other than said members, arranged to support and tosubstantially balance the roller when it is swung oneither transverseaxis.

ALBERT J. HORTOIL

